In the whiff of DPP rule: Malawi situation, we are certainly in this together

The DPP government is fast cruising to a destination. I would have loved to name the destination but I am not able to for the simple reason that I don’t know, and I am sure I am not alone in this predicament.

Few people out there can really tell where this country is heading; what they can tell, however, is where we are coming from under the stewardship of Peter Mutharika. We are certainly in this together.

It is often said that a good predictor of the future is the past. It is difficult therefore to craft a good model of the future minus a detailed profile of the past. It is simply impossible.

A precursor of the future under the DPP government is therefore accurately pictured based on a review of where we have come from. The past 14 months under Mutharika is a wake that is littered with a mixture of armature dramatics, cronyism and silly power-games.

Professor Peter Mutharika came on the scene with a new promise to do away with the old politics that is not tainted with tribal hyperbole and political patronage. He promised politics unusual. He raised the bar of expectation and for once a lot of Malawians began to believe in themselves; people began to look forward to a new future with abundant promise.

How that high promise has turned out to be a maze of confusion is an archetypal story of a long mile from the ridiculous to the sublime and seconds from the sublime to the ridiculous.

The first warning shot was fired when, just a few months in office, President Mutharika held a series of political rallies where, among other things, he declared his candidature for 2019 elections. It was also during these political rallies that we got the hint that the President still nurses a burning hatred against Joyce Banda and her People’s Party, especially over the treason charges slapped on him for attempting to usurp a constitutional order.

Mutharika’s speeches and actions hinted that he would do anything to ‘revenge’ what he said was unjustly done to him. He said this despite his amnesty declaration against his perceived enemies and call to bury the hatchet at his inauguration.

Now, 14 months later, the DPP government seems to be lost in wonderland. Mutharika has turned out to be an aloof and arrogant; a President who has practically disconnected with the ordinary Malawian – and ‘sleeping walking’ in power as others have said.

His ability to annoy and disfranchise people, including those who were prepared to die for him just over a year ago, has been legendary. He is more than happy to leave the reins of power to self-made and incompetent subordinates under the alias of advisors.

His procrastination on major decisions has been breathtaking. The much touted Malata Subsidy project has turned out to be an instrument of political patronage to appease his DPP apologists.

Donors are still withholding their budgetary support and have demanded a forensic examination and report of all the ‘cashgates’, not just the cashgate unearthed during the PP regime, but also the other ‘cashgates’ including the MK92 billion cashgate that took place during the reign of Bingu wa Mutharika.

The corruption fight has been reduced to only about a way of ‘shaking up’ political opponents. Security breakdown has reached pitiful levels.

Armed thugs are hitting fast and furious including at places that ought to be most secured. Cabinet Minister, AtupeleMuluzi was paid a visit in the middle of the night by robbers who made away with assorted items. The house of the State Vice President, Saulos Chilima, was also broken into, leaving people wondering whether they are any secure if armed robbers can just walk in and out of the most heavily guarded places on the land.

Ballots were set on fire at Malawi Electoral Commission warehouse in a mafia-like style.

In the latest armed robbery episode, the house of the Germany envoy was broken into and documents relating to the MK577 billion cashgate stolen. The Germany government is funding the forensic audit, which is looking into the MK92 billion scam.

But perhaps the lowest moment in this security breakdown was the killing of Anti–Corruption- Bureau (ACB) Deputy Director, IssaNjauju, who was kidnapped, gunned down and buried in a shallow grave just close to State House in Lilongwe. His official vehicle was burnt to ashes. Up to now no arrests have been made except for high sounding statements from Police and government.

At the rate we are going, Malawians have every reason to fear for their future. The Head of State must quickly come off the hangover of his ivory tower conditions and simply lead the country.

A government that fails to provide the most basic services has no business to be called government. ‘Learning expands great souls’, so the saying goes. Mutharika should consult even those people that he does not agree with. The lone-wolf approach will not help Mutharika and certainly not Malawians. Milk and honey have different colours, but they share the same house peacefully. Otherwise, he who thinks he is leading and has no one following him is only taking a walk.

“I learned that leadership is about falling in love with the people and the people falling in love with you. It is about serving the people with selflessness, with sacrifice and with the need to put the common good ahead of personal interests.”- Joyce Banda, former president of Malawi.

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Mulangizi wa APM (Same Sex Marriages and Mithibulo)

Did you say Malawians had high hopes in Mutharika? Not me. I saw him as a failure when he served in his brother’s government. It was actually his idiocy that led to his brother unable to leaving behind a great history.

Even at a uni where he taught the man had a very poor rating.

It is unfortunate that Malawians with an insight like mine are very few, he should not have been a president. This is and will be the worst president in Malawi and in the whole world. Trust me!

This arrogance is exactly what reduced the late Bingu from a hero to a mere villain.It’s such a shame and a pity that our so-called highly educated President has deliberately chosen to follow his late brother’s unsuccessful leadership style.Wake up Mr. President and start serving Malawians,not just yourself and the selescted few who say yes to everything u suggest

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3 years ago

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Kavuluvulu

A LHOMWE boma lawakanika ili.

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3 years ago

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zatonse

Akukonde akukonde,mai mai & others,
The author is not obliged to offer solutions. His/ her responsibility is to point out weak areas.
However, this particular author has been generous. He’s made some important suggestions by way of reminding us about seeking sound advice from sound people.

Abale, tiyeni tiziwelenga nkhanizi mpfuna kuti bwino

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3 years ago

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namarokoro

You make me laugh by ending your article with a quote of ” Former President Dr Joyce Banda”. You may not know because you are staying in the United Kingdom, and you are forgiven for that, that house-breakings has been a problem in Malawi since Kamuzu days. My house in area 12 has been broken into several times and it all happened before this current government. The responsibility to curb robberies is the responsibility of all Malawians living in Malawi. We need to work with the police and not hide thieves amongst us because all these breaking our houses are… Read more »